Cloisonne,also known as Jingtailan is a unique art from originated in Beijing
Cloisonne is also enamel,which flourished and reached it’s peak of development during the reign of the Ming emperor Jingtai(1450-1457). As the objects were mostly in blue color, Cloisonne
Came to be called Jintailan( jing tai blue) in Chinese
One needs to go through more than 30 procedures to make a Cloisonne, copper is first used to make the base,after which the pattern is stuck on the bronze body by oblate brass wires as thin as hairs;the inlay pattern is then filled in by enamel glaze material in different colors kept apart by the wire strips. After being fired four or five times in a kiln,the work iece is polished and gilded into a coorul and lustrous work of art
Since the Beijing Cloisonne with unique national character was invented, it was mainly used as elegant ornaments in the imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties. At the World Expo of 1904 held in Chicage, Beijing Cloisonne won the first prize. The earliest Cloisonne articles reserved till now are products in the period of Xuande during the Ming dynasty.
Some Cloisonne articles are made in forms of vases,jars and boxes; others are designed for ornamental purposes,adding extra beauty to things that are useful,such as vases,lamps,cigarette cases,wine jars,tea sets,etc. Nowadays, Cloisonne articles have been exported around the world.
